ALA Petition – USA Patriot Act vs. Reader Privacy

The USA Patriot Act threatens your privacy in bookstores and libraries. It gives the FBI the power to apply to a secret court for an order compelling the surrender of records of the books you purchase or borrow.

The government does not have to produce any evidence that you are a terrorist or even that you are suspected of any crime! The order also gags booksellers and librarians, making it illegal to reveal that your records have been searched.

OIF and the Washington Office, along with the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and other groups, is sponsoring a petition drive to urge our representatives in Congress to support legislation that amends section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.

The petitions will be used on National Library Legislation Day in May, when librarians visit their representatives in Washington, D.C.

Please use this petition to collect signatures at your library, and return signed petitions to: